Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2012; 25(06): 478-487 DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-12-02-0017
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH
Radiographic landmarks for measurement of cranial tibial subluxation in the canine cruciate ligament deficient stifle
R. Plesman
1
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
,
A. Sharma
2
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
,
P. Gilbert
1
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
,
J. Campbell
3
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
,
J. D. Johnston
4
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
,
C. Shmon
1
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
,
K. Linn
1
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
› Author Affiliations
This research was supported by financial assistance from the Companion Animal Health Fund at the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Kennel Club. The project was approved by the University of Saskatchewan Animal Care and Use Committee.
Objectives: The primary objective was to develop a repeatable radiographic technique for assessment of cranial tibial subluxation (CTS) and test the intra-observer and inter-observer repeatability of the chosen landmarks. A secondary objective was to determine the effects of digital radiographic magnification on CTS measurement repeatability.
Methods: Twenty-three normal canine pelvic limbs were used to determine the magnitude of CTS before and after transection of the cranial cruciate ligament. Mediolateral radiographs were taken with and without fiduciary markers in place. Three investigators measured the CTS using radiographically visible anatomic landmarks at two different magnifications. The total observed variabilities were assessed by inter-observer and intra-observer differences. Paired t-tests were used to determine the effect of magnification and marker presence on CTS measures.
Results: Measurement of the CTS from the caudal margin of the intercondylar fossa on the femur to the intercondylar eminence was the most repeatable. Poor correlation between the anatomic landmarks and the fiduciary bone markers was observed. We found no effect of magnification or presence or absence of bone markers on measurement of CTS.
Clinical significance: Cranial tibial subluxation can be detected with the most repeatability by measuring between the caudal margin of the intercondylar fossa and the intercondylar eminence. Magnification of the digitized radiographic image had minimal effect on repeatability. This technique can be used for in vivo analysis of the canine cruciate ligament deficient stifle joint.
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